Day 78 – Saturday 29th
March 2014 – Hong Kong
Spent a lazy
morning on board, watching the weather, waiting for the fog/mist to lift from
the top of The Peak on Hong Kong Island.
At 13.00
went to the Star Ferry tourist office who informed the best way to get to the
top.
Across on the island just off the
ferry terminal, I boarded the No.15 double decker bus and off through the
streets of Hong Kong, back out to Happy Valley by which time the bus was full
of passengers. Then you begin the climb
up to The Peak, this used to be the most sort after place to live in Hong Kong
and there are more flats and hotels built here now.
The buses
journey up the winding road was jaw dropping when negotiating the many bends,
very short crash barriers on the sides of the road, with a drop down where no
one would survive, you had to put all your faith in the driver of the double
decker. As we climbed ever further
upwards, the mist and fog was piling in until there was no views what so ever.
After three
quarters of an hour after leaving the ferry bus stop we pulled into the bus station
built underneath a shopping mall on top of the peak, and not too far away there
was a supermarket. Last time I was here,
there was a small café and lookout point.
 |
| Hong Kong from The Peak |
While waiting for
the weather to clear, I went into Bubble Gum Co. for a shrimp meal and
beer. The Catering Manager struck up a
conversation and I spent a wonderful time with him swapping stories. Then it started raining and even more people
headed into the shopping malls.
 |
| Looking towards Kowloon |
The rain was clearing away the mist and haze
and I was able to take some pictures from the peak in the limited visibility.
It was time
to say goodbye to the peak and return on the No.15 bus which did not take as
long to reach the bottom.
The transport
system in Hong Kong is now amazing with train, bus and tram all interlinked and
not forgetting the ferries.
Back across
on the ferry to the Kowloon side, I wandered about the shopping areas and
absolutely amazed at the queues, mostly of young people, forming outside high
class fashion shops and jewellers.
Obviously, they have the money to spend.
A last wander around the Ocean Terminal for old time sake and I was on
board for 18.00.
 |
| Kowloon |
 |
| Hong Kong |
The ship
left at 20.00 with a laser show going on from the high rise blocks on the Hong
Kong and Kowloon sides.
This is very
spectacular with the lights flashing across the harbour. I stayed on the aft deck as the rain had
stopped and a lovely clear night.
As I had
missed the arrival, I was not going to miss the departure out of Hong Kong.
 |
| New Territories Flats |
The new high
rise flats were much in evidence which they had built on the old ship repair
facilities at Taikoo.
The old airport at
Kai Tak, gone and move to Lantau island, and I have never seen so many high
rise flats in the new Territories.
Along
the shores there are raised motorways with constantly moving traffic. After two hours we were out the harbour
limits and into the open sea.
Leaving
China and Hong Kong was emotional for me (many happy memories), I last saw China in 1967 and Hong
Kong 1974, lots has changed in those subsequent years. I always remembered the
phrase, when I first came here. “BEWARE THE TIGER IN THE EAST”.
It has
happened, which I knew always would. The
people in the West should wake up to these facts, while our, full of their own
importance politicians, especially in the UK, should get a sense of proportion and
realise this.
China has caught up in
fifty years and is going further ahead in every area, and the people of China are
reaping the benefits.
Good luck to
them all, for a very bright future lies ahead.
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